Heat-treating furnace



C. R. BERGER, JR

HEAT-TREATING FURNACE Feb. 6, 195,1

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 4, 1945 lllllllll VIIIlIIIAl @ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1951 C. R. BERGER, JR

HEAT-TREATING FURNACE VINVENTOR l @AV MQW MM TTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1945 Patented Feb. 6, 95

HEAT- TREATIN G FURNACE Carl R. Berger, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Selas Corporation of America, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 4, 1945, Serial No.` 620,300 claims. (o1. 263-43) My invention relates to heat treating furnaces redby a combustible fuel mixture, and is especially concerned with such furnaces in which temperature equalization is accomplished by circulation of the heated gaseous atmosphere therein.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improvement for equalizing the temperatures in a heat treating furnace in which gaseousproducts of combustion produced by combustion of a combustible fuel mixture are introduced' at a high velocity into the furnace and the velocity energy of the gaseous products of combustion is utilized to induce circulation of the gaseous atmo'sphere in the furnace, whereby equalization of temperatures may be accomplished solely by such 'induced circulation of the gaseoustatmosphere without the aid of a circulating fan.

The novel features which I believe to hecharacteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the claims. The invention, both as to*v organization and method, together with the above and other objects and advantages'thereof, will. be better understoodby reference tothe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and of which:

`Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of heat treating furnace embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the top part of the furnace of Fig. l with the roof in a raised position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the furnace of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the furnace of Figs. land 2 with the roof removed, partly broken away and in section, to illustrate the furnace more clearly; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a heat treating furnace illustrating a modification of the invention.

In the drawings I have shown a heat treating furnace I0 embodying the invention comprising an'annular-shaped sidewall I I and a floor I2 defining a chamber I4. The side wall II and floor I2 are formed of suitable refractory material and `supported and enclosed in an outer metallic shell I5.

' In the floor I2 are embedded the lower ends of vertical posts IB at the upper ends of which rests a cylindrical plate I1, having' apertures I8 therein," for supporting an open wire basket I9 or the like adapted to contain the work pieces to be heat treated. In order to withstand the high temperature heating effects produced in chamber I4, the posts I6 and plate I'I may be formed n of suitable refractory ceramic material, and the basket I9 may be formed of suitable metal, such A as, for example, stainless steel ,and the like. p The furnace I0 is provided with a removable4 roof or cover 20 comprising an outer metallic shell 2I enclosing a wall 22 of suitable refractoryv material, these parts being formed to provide a central aperture 23 for the escape of excess furnace gases from the chamber I4'. When the roof 22 is in position, the refractory Wall 22 restsy Theabutting walls II and 22 are stepped, as indicated at 23 in Fig. 1, and the gap therebetween A.

snugly against the top edge of side wall I II.

may be filled with suitable insulating material (not shown), such as asbestos rope and the likef;

for example, to insure a gas-tight seal.

In accordance with my invention the refractory lined chamber I4 is fired bya combustible fuel mixture in such a manner that the resulting products of combustion are discharged at a high r velocity into chamber I4, and the velocity energy of the products of combustion is utilized to induce circulation of the gaseous atmosphere in chamber I4 to effect equalization of 1 temperatures therein. I accomplish this by providing in the roof 2I a plurality of burners 24 ineach of which substantially complete combustionA of a com-A bustible fuel mixture is accomplished and from the restricted outlets 25 of which high temperature gases are discharged at a high velocity, suchY gases consisting substantially entirely of heated products of combustion.

The burners 24, which are distributed in a circle in the roof 2l, comprise elongated hollow refractory shells 26 defining small combustion chambers 2'I each having a restricted outlet 25. The burner shells 26 snugly t in the bottom narrow portion ofV apertures 28 formed in the roof 2 I, so that the outlets 25 are substantially at the inner surface of the refractory roof wall 22 and adjacent to the side wall II.

In the top wider portions of the apertures 28,

the upper flanged ends of the shells 2B are secured to hollow base members 29 by flanged clamping rings 30 threadedly secured thereto. Each base member 29 provides an inlet chamber 3|, and` between the inlet chamber and combustion cham"- be'r 21 is' provided an orifice wall having a plu-` rality of small openings or orices 32 therein.

Each burner 24 is connected by piping 33, having a valve 34 connected therein, to a manifold 35 encircling the roof 20 and to which a corn" bustible fuel mixture is delivered at an inlet 36 from a suitable source of supply. The piping33 :fr j 2,540,806

for each burner 24' is secured at 31 to a bracket 38 fixed to the shell 2| at the region of an aperture 28, so that all of the piping and the manifold 35 are carried and supported by the roof 2E) through the brackets 38 and none of the weight of these parts is transmitted to the burners 24.

Y In order to efficiently utilize the high velocity gas streams'dischargedf from the burners 24 to induce circulation of the gaseous atmosphere in the chamber I4, a number of elongated refractory members 3Q are positioned at the side wall I I in each of which is formed an axially extending passage 49 having the upper end thereof in alignment with the dischargeforifice'25of one of the burners 24. As shown i-n- Fig. Il,V the refractory members 3S are trapezoidal in section and in abutting relation and shaped toforma cylindrical y inner wall for the chamber I4. The floor I2 is notched at a region belowthe plate I1 to provide an annular shoulder 4I for supporting the members 317 at the outer peripheral portions thereof.

:In the illustrated embodiment, in order to promote rapid circu.ation of thegaseous atmosphere in the chamber I4, thepassage 40 of each member 39 is Venturi-shaped and formed with an outwardly flaring entrance cone spaced from and closely adjacent to the 'discharge orifice 25 of one of the burners 24 'from which a high velocity gas stream is discharged, whereby efcient transformation of the velocity energy of the gas stream into pressure energy is effected in the expanding or dischargec'one of the Venturi passage. To further promote the rapid circulation. of the gaseous atmosphere in the chamber I4, the inner surface of the floor I2 is' curved and rounded and includesa raised central portion 42 to impart an upward: sweepv to the gases'discharged from .thelower-.ends'of the passages 40.

To facilitate alignment of the burners 24 and the. passages 40 in the` members 39, the top edge ofthe -casing vI'andthe bottom edge of the shell 2l. vare each .provided with apertured angle brackets 43 and-44, respectively, at :diametricallyr opposite sides of the'furna'cepl.. iThe brackets 43` and 44 are soposition'ed that, when these parts are in alignment andthe apertures therein can.

. the. burners 24 are-ignited. This is accomplished by. opening the valves 34V and delivering to the burners 24 a premi-xed combustible fuel mixture including a gaseous fuel` and' a combustion supporting gas, such as air or a mixture of air and oxygen, for example.

When the burners 24 are relatively cool and at the temperature of the surroundings, the pre- 1 mixed fuel mixture supplied thereto -passes through the inlet chamber 3|, orice walls'and chambers 21 fromdwhich it is discharged through the. restricted outlets or dischargeV orifices 25.

When a premixed combustiblefuel mixture of airand ordinary gas, such as city gas, 4natural gas and the like, for ex amp1e,-is delivered to *the*Y burners 24, the fuel mixture is initially supplied at a relatively low pressure,such asl-that equivalent to five or six inches of water. column,A forex- Y ample, so that the fuel mixture discharged from the chambers'21 can -be ignitedto produce and maintain flames at the discharge `orifices 25,.`

With the flames being maintained at the dis--v charge orifices 25, the pressure of the fuel mixture supplied to the burners 24 is then reduced suiiiciently to cause the llames to backfire from the discharge orices 25 onto the orifice walls in the chambers 21. Under these conditions a. plurality of small llames are produced and maintained at the lower ends of .the orifices' 32.

After the flames are being maintained within the chambers 21 at the lower ends of the orifices 32, the pressure of the fuel mixture supplied to the burners-24 may be increased. After a short interval of time, the flames maintained at the bottom surfaces of the orifice walls effect such heating of the inner refractory surfaces of the shells 26 that these surfaces are heated to a high incandescent temperature. Due to heating the inner Vrefractory linings of the burners 24 to a high temperature, complete combustion of the fuel mixture is accomplished in the small chambers 21Y before the fuel mixture reaches the restricted outlets 25. From the restricted outlet 25 of each burner is discharged a high velocity jeter stream of heated gases consisting substantially entirely Vof thehe'ated products of f combustion.

The combustion conditions in the small chambers 21 are such that rapid flame propagation'is" eifectedthereby permitting the combustible fuel mixture to-'be supplied'to the. bur-ners: 24"at:fa relatively high delivery pressure which maybe-as high as 5 lbs. per square inch or higher. When using a combustible mixture of ordinary gas and air, the products of :combustion are discharged velocity of 750 feetor more'vp'er second 'or at-*a maximum velocity of 1000 feet` or' higher 'per' second. Since the fuel. mixtureisl` introduced into the combustion chambers21 at a' temperatemperature.

`frire' high velocity .at which one heated gases--v are discharged from the-burners 24 is attributable to the fact that combustion of the gas mixture is effected substantially entirey withinthe combustion chambers '21 in which 'the gases undergo considerable expansion,` as just pointed out. Due to the manner inwhich combustion is accomplished, therefore, the burners 24 may be operated at relativelyY high gas mixture delivery I pressures to produce the: high velocity gas streams which are discharged from the burners 24 at Yan elevated temperature approximately 'in the' equal to the temperatures maintained combustion chambers. 21.

The highltemperature `products of combustionv discharged from the burners 24 passthrough the passages 4S. and thence upwardly through the apertures I3 in the plate I1. After the burners 24 havebeen operating'for anfinterval of time,

the inner refractory lining of the chamber I4 is heated to a highly radiant condition due to the.

high temperature gases sweeping over the surfaces thereof. shaped passagesV 4I) are .likewise heated to a high- -jly radiant condition by reason of the high temdischarged from the restricted outlets 25 of the burners 24 induce flow of gaseous atmosphere .finto .the upperends of the. passages 40, thesizefz.

The surfaces of the Venturiof the entrance cone of each Venturi-shaped passage being so related to the jet of high temperature gases that sufficient space is provided to insure an even flow of gaseous atmosphere into the entrance cone. By providing properly designed Venturi-shaped passages 40, the energy of the driving high temperature gas jets is effectively utilized to produce a uniform mixture which is discharged from the lower ends of the passages at a relatively high pressure. By way of example and without limitation, when the high temperature gas jets are discharged at an average velocity of 750 feet per second or higher into the passages 40, vigorous circulation of the gaseous atmosphere in the chamber I4 is effected in which the velocity of the gases may be as high as 100 feet per minute or higher.

Since high temperature heating eiects as high as 2600 VF. or higher may be produced in the chamber I4 with vigorous circulation of the gaseous atmosphere which is slightly above atmospheric pressure, it will be evident that the fur-l nace of the invention is especially useful for heat treating articles at such high temperatures in which gas circulating fans have not been practical because of the excessively high temperatures involved.

While the inner lining of the chamber I4 is heated to a highly radiant condition and heat is radiated therefrom to the articles in basket I9 directly exposed to such radiant heating cornponent, the fact that the gaseous atmosphere is at or slightly higher than the temperature of the lining and vigorous circulation of the gaseous atmosphere is effected, as explained above, insures temperature equalization in the chamber I4 whereby all of the articles in the basket I9 are heated substantially uniformly to the same temperature bye-onvection heating.

The furnace of the invention is extremely flexible in operation and capable of producing heating effects over a wide temperature range. When the maximum temperature is desired in chamber I4, all of the burners 24 are operated; and when heat treating temperatures below the maximum temperature are desired, some of the burners 24 are not employed. Even when the number of burners 24 employed is reduced as much as fty per cent and only half of the burners are operated, vigorous circulation of the gaseous atmosphere in chamber I4 is still effected to produce temperature equalization in the furnace. Further, the gaseous atmosphere in the chamber I4 may be maintained either oxidizing, reducing or neutral in character by appropriately adjusting the ratio of gaseous fuel to combustion supporting gas in the combustible fuel mixture delivered to the inlet 36 of the manifold 35 and passing therefrom through the piping 33 to the burners 24.

In certain instances it may be desirable to dilute the heated products of combustion discharged irom the burners 24 with air or an inert gas, such as nitrogen, for example, and then inject such gas mixture into the chamber I4. Such amodication is shown in Fig. 5 in which parts similar to those in the embodiment just described are designated by the same reference numerals. In Fig. 5 a combustible fuel mixture, such as ordinary gas and air, for example, is supplied under pressure to the burners 24 located in the upper Wider parts of the apertures 28 formed in the roof 20. The restricted outlets 25 of the burners are dsposed immediately above and in alignment with Venturi-shaped `passages 46 6i I formed in members 41 positioned in the narrow bottom parts of the apertures 28.

In Fig. 5 the jets or streams of high temperature gases discharged from the restricted voutflets 25 of the burners 24 induce flow of atmospheric air into the upper ends of the Venturi-4 into the upper ends of the passages 40 in the.

same manner as in the first described `embodiment.

By utilizing the high velocity gases discharged from the burners 24 to inspirate atmospheric air, the temperature at which the heated gases is introduced into chamber I4 is reduced. This is desirable where it is necessary to effect heat treating operations at temperatures considerably.

below the temperature of the heated products of combustion discharged from the burners.

In order to regulate the extent to which atmospheric air is mixed with the heated products of combustion, a suitable shutter may be provided.

at the top of each roof aperture 28. Such a shutter may include a stationary plate 48 provided with a number of openings and over which is mounted a rotatable plate 49 also provided with a number of openings. By adjusting the extent to which the openings in the plate 49 overlap the openings in the plate 48, the ow of air into the upper wider part of the roof apertures 28 may be controlled. In this way the temperature of the gas mixture injected yinto the upper ends of the Venturi-shaped passages 40 in the chamber I4 may be accurately controlled.

Instead of utilizing the heated gases dischargedfrom the burners 24 to entrain atmospheric air, as just described, the roof apertures 28 :maybe connected to a source of supply of any other suit able gas, such as nitrogen, for example, for ad-h mixture with the high temperature gases. Further, the atmospheric air and other suitable gases may be supplied to the roof apertures 28 under slight pressure to facilitate the entrainment of such gases into the Venturi-shaped passages 46 while still taking advantage of the inspirating effect of the high temperature gases discharged at a high velocity from the burners 2 4.

While I have shown and described several em-v bodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifica-v tions and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as pointed out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A heating furnace Vcharacterized by the ab sence of a fan comprising structure forming a refractory lined heating space, a plurality of burners each having a refractory lined comhus` tion chamber provided with an inlet adapted to `receive a combustible fuel mixture and arestricted outlet through which heated products of combus tion are adapted to be discharged at a relatively high velocity, wall means in said heating spaceVN adapted to form a central inner zone and an outer zone disposed about the inner zone, said zones be- .i

ing in open communication with each other and through `and between which furnace gases may he fctrcmat'edffsaid "burners b'eing icnstructeuand arranged so thatheated 'products of 'combustion adapted ito 2b`e discharged 'through Jthe outlets 'ther-edf 'clin fa vI'Jlurality'"Cif `gas streams are 'injectedinto onenisaidizones,landfsaidiwan means being formed so that theigases linl-the other' 'of said cones are fentrained by Vthe injected gas streams into said `ione zone `to cause .circulation of F-theigas'es within-'saidiheating space and Iefie'c't equalization 'o'f temperatures itherein,

f2. 2A fheating furnaee vicharacterizeu by :the absence of a ifa'n l'comprising fstructure forming "a Arefractory Flin'ed heating fspace, a yplurality of burners fe'ach having '25a 'refractory lined combustion'c'hamber provided with an inlet ladapted to .receive la 'combustible fuel 'mixture-and arestricted outlet f-through lwhich VIheated .products of i'combustion are 1adapted -to 'be )discharged :at la relatively high velocity, means including a plurality o'f lrefractory members' substantially -.trap'ezoidal in transverse section and forming apart ofthe refractory lining .'.fo'r fsaidrspace, each of said members being :provided with a lVenturi-shaped `passage ha-ving entrance v'and discharge `ends in open i communication lwith spaced iapart 'regions fsaid space,- saidibur'n'ers beinglconstructedl and arranged-'so 'that `heated "products o'f combustion :adapted to v'be vdischarged athrough lthe vloutlets 'thereof iin a pluralityV of gas-streams are 'injected into the entrance iends .of sa'id Venturi-.shaped `feach -bur'ner -`whereby the high velocity heated products "of combustion .eritrain 1.a 4gas `vforV admixture therewith, .wallineans fin said heating space adaptedto fforma:pluralityrofvzones in opencommunication :with reach :other :and :through and between which -furna'ce gases may `be circulated, saidinspi-rator :means t being constructed `and 'arranged fso :that :the heated products f 'of vcombustion and gas :admixe'd therewithfare injected into one of ysaid =zones in 1a plurality of gas streams, and said wall vmeans @being formed so 'that the gases -in -the 'other `ofjsaid zones :are entrained by -theyinjeoted gas streams finto y'said oneazone to cause Ycirculation et vthe :gases within said heating spaceand feiect equalization v-iof temperatures therein f i 4. A heatingturnacecharacterizedby Ythe-absence of a fan comprising structure forming 'a refractory `lined heating space, means including one or -more burners -ea'ch Yhaving fa refractory lined combustion chamber .provided with an inlet adapted to 'receive a combustible fuelmixture and a vrestricted Voutlet through which heated products vof combustion are 'adapted to 'be dis' regionsffsaidspa'cesaid inspiratcrmeansbei'ng constructed-iand'farrangedlsdthatiheatediproducts' tion -of a fuelmixture dat a plurality yof "points spaced 'around :said "periphery, A'discharging the products of combustion *from said points into the channels "as ja plurality of high temperature gas streams at -=a high Avelocity, 'and circulating the lgases in said space through A"the fcli'annels with fthe high temperature gas streams Pso'lely by the Adrivingforce of the 'latter Y'to 'thereby pro4 duce a high fdeg'ree of turbulence in said "space to effect even heating of a'charge therein.

l'6. heating furnace comprising a refractory lined heating space 'provided with an enclosing wall, said vwall being l'formedwith 'a plurality of tu'bular "passages -therein extending :generally "in the direction of said space and being-connected at eacheend `with-saidispa'ce, a Vplurality of burn-l ers each v"having a combustion chamber provided with-an inlet and anv outletthroug'hwhichheated products of `combustion are fdischarged 'at a 'high f velocity, means v-to mount said 'burners 'with a burner 'adjacentone'end of 'each'passage and in` line 'therewith whereby the hot products of combustion areejecte'd-into said passages, -an'drneans tolsupply fuel to' saidL burners.

'7. A heating `furnace -comprising a body 'portion `formed :with Nvan openendchambcr vhaving-1a refractory lined wall, -sai'd wall being provided with a Yplural-ity of 'passages Iextending 4therethrough, the `ends of said passages Vterminating' bustion `are-discharged at a high velocity, said products of Y'combustion 'passing `through saidf passages tosaid chamben'said products Ofcom#- bus'tio'n Lproducing an'aspirating leie'ct to create,

a *flow o'f kgas from said chamber through 'said passages "and thereby create a turbulent atmosf y pherein said'chamber.

T8. A heating 'furnace comprising Aa'body i'por'?y tion formed with an 'open end chamber having refractory lined 'side walls'and 'bottom wall, said side walls being'formed with aplurality ofpassages extending from the top thereof toap'oint adjacent said bottom wall .and opening into Vsaid chamber, va -cover for said chamber and said Y passagewaysandbeing so'formedthat lthe upper Y ends Yof'i'said ip'assageways "are in communication with said: chamber, a plurality iof "burners carried` by said cover, leachlburner being aligned with` Y oneV oi Vsaid passageways and b'eing ,provided 'with a combustion "chamber having 'an inlet land an outlet "through which heated -products of Vcome bustion are discharged fat high Vvelocity through said jpassageways, and "means "to supply indi' vduallyffuel tosa'id burners.

heating I furnace l.comprising structure formedwith a Vlefurnace vchamber therein, "said structure including-a plurality'of passagesaround'Y the chamber and extending substantially parallel thereto, each of said passages being in open communication with said chamber at each end thereof, a plurality of burners acting when in operation to discharge a stream of high temperature gases therefrom, means to mount said burners so that each burner is aligned with and spaced from one end of one of said passages whereby the hot gases from the burners will enter said passages and entrain gases from said chamber therewith to `cause circulation of gases within said chamber, and means to supply fuel to said burners.

10. A heating furnace comprising a body portion and a top therefor, said body portion being formed with a centrally disposed chamber and a plurality of passages surrounding said chamber and communicating therewith at each e-nd, a plurality of burners each operative to discharge a stream of high temperature gases, means to mount said burners in said top with a burner aligned with each of said passages and spaced therefrom, the gases from said burners being discharged directly into said passages to thereby heat said passages and said chamber, said 10 gases entraining gas from said chamber to thereby circulate the gases in said chamber, and 's aid top being provided with an opening through 4which excess gas may exhaust.

CARL R. BERGER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 957,873 Fishir May 17, 1910 1,284,711 Kralund NOV. 12, 1918 1,617,609 Smith Feb. 15, 1927 1,717,115 McCann June 11, 1929 1,734,387 Lykken Nov. 5, 1929 2,048,644 Winder et al. July 21, 1936 2,085,811 Loftus July 6, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES V`Iages 49, 89, 90 of Industrial Furnaces, vol. II, 2nd edition, by Trnks. This text is published by John Wiley and Sons, New York, N. Y. 

